ODNI Reveals Extensive Network of Global Biolabs
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has unveiled a significant collection of intelligence regarding U.S. taxpayer-funded biological research facilities operating worldwide.
On Friday, outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shared that an ongoing audit has identified over 120 biomedical laboratories across more than 30 countries.
This declassification seems to be linked to directives from President Donald Trump, who has influenced the context of the release. Although the administration hasn’t released a separate statement addressing the information, the ODNI confirmed that this audit and the resulting disclosures align with the president’s executive agenda.
National security officials pointed out that many of these labs have maintained a low level of transparency and oversight while conducting research on highly contagious pathogens. There are concerns about some international facilities participating in gain-of-function research, which alters organisms to make them more transmissible or dangerous.
This sudden release of information correlates with Trump’s administration push to eliminate federal funding for risky biological experimentations overseas.
In May 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14292, which prohibited federal funding for gain-of-function projects globally. Gabbard stressed that the findings from her office lend support to the administration’s tough policy stance, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the severe risks associated with managing hazardous pathogens in labs.
“Even with the clear potential for global catastrophe posed by research on dangerous pathogens, politicians and so-called health experts like Dr. Fauci misled the public about U.S.-funded biolabs and threatened those who tried to reveal the truth. The ODNI will keep collaborating with government partners to discover the locations of these labs and the pathogens they hold to end risky gain-of-function research that poses threats to public health,” said Gabbard.
Geopolitical risks related to these research sites have come under scrutiny, particularly those in conflict zones. The intelligence assessment reported on numerous nations, focusing initially on facilities in Ukraine.
ODNI fact sheets indicate that the Pentagon has invested millions into constructing and upgrading several labs in Ukraine, with one facility costing $3.49 million for building and specialized equipment. Gabbard pointed out that these Ukrainian facilities are particularly at risk of Russian attacks or military takeovers, raising significant biological safety concerns.
While lab operations vary, funding for their construction and specialized equipment can be traced back to federal budgets from the late 2000s into the 2010s and 2020s.
Gabbard is set to leave her position on June 30, 2026, as the Senate Intelligence Committee prepares for the confirmation hearing of her successor, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, on June 17.
In light of these findings, the ODNI has issued new guidelines instructing security officials to enhance intelligence collection on foreign clinical trials and laboratory infrastructures outside the U.S.
